Cabinet allies rally round Blair

Tony Blair's closest political allies have mounted a rearguard action to shore up the beleaguered Prime Minister.

A series of Cabinet colleagues took to the television studios to back Mr Blair and appeal for him to be allowed to get on with the job.

While acknowledging the cash-for-honours probe was damaging to the Government, they stressed Mr Blair was was not being treated as a suspect by Scotland Yard.

The offensive came as a poll found more than half of voters want the Prime Minister to step down immediately. The ICM survey for the Sunday Express found 56% of the public wants him to go now rather than wait for his planned summer departure.

That followed further controversy over the cash-for-honours inquiry last week when Mr Blair's fundraiser Lord Levy was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. It also emerged the Prime Minister himself was questioned a second time by detectives investigating the allegations.

But Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell dismissed reports that even Cabinet colleagues were questioning how long he could last and urged people to wait for the outcome of the inquiry. "I think we should all suspend judgment until that time comes and not allow this to become a distraction from the business of government and get on with what people elected us to do," she said.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said Mr Blair had "a lot of work" left to do. "Tony Blair, for all the kicks he has taken, has been the most successful Prime Minister anyone can remember," he said.

Labour Party chair Hazel Blears said the police investigation had "overshadowed quite a lot" of the Government's domestic agenda. "It's very difficult I think to get messages across," she said.

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said it was "rubbish" to suggest there was paralysis in Whitehall. "Of course, the whole issue of the investigation, the allegations that are being made, of course that is damaging," she went on. "But that is not a reason for the Prime Minister to be bundled out of office. The Prime Minister is giving outstanding leadership."

Former home secretary Charles Clarke said it would be "seriously irresponsible" if the Prime Minister stood down now with the Northern Ireland peace process at a critical stage.